Half to thomas h



(No Model.)

-E. B'. RAVBNCROFT. GISTERN CLEANER kPatented Aug. 23, 1892.

w/nessea' c, maro-mn UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EVAN B. RAVENOROFT, OF NORTH BALTIMORE, OHIO, ASSIGN OR OF ONE- HALF TOTHOMAS H. CARTER, OF SAME'PLAOE.

CISTERN- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 481,423, datedAugust 23, 1892.

Application iiled February 13, 1892. Serial No. 421,393. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EvAN B. RAvENcRoET, a citizen of the United States,residing at NorthBaltimore, in the county of Wood and State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oistern Cleaners;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilledl in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to cistern-cleaners; and the obj ect of the sanneis to provide an improved device for cleaning cisterns and thenpurifying the Water therein by aeration.

To this end the invention consists in a device constructed substantiallyas hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and as illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure l is a perspective view ofmy improved cistern-cleaner ready for use. Fig. 2 is an enlarged centralvertical section of the same with the piston raised and the valveclosed. Eig. 3 is a similar section of the lower end of the cylinder,showing the means I ernploy to prevent the valve from completelyclosing, and this view also illustrates how the device is used as anaerator.

Referring to the said drawings, the letter E designates a cylinder ofsuitable dimensions, preferably about eight inches in diameter by twelveinches in length, although the same may be of any suitable size, and isnot necessarily cylindrical, as shown. The lower end of this cylinder isprovided with an annular base F, secured to the cylinder, andthe flaringlower end of the base extends below the lower end of the cylinder and isnotched, as at f', so as to form feet f.V The latter rest on the bottomof the cistern and allow the water to enter through the notches f',while the entire cylinder may be rotated, so that the feet f Will scrapethe bottom, and by their flaring shape they enter all corners of thecistern, (if the latter flares toward the bottom,) and thus agitate thesediment that may gather there, though the notches f afford an inlet atall times. The upper end or head of the cylinder E is closed by a diskor plate E2, centrally apertured, as at e2, and upon this head by boltsor screws d is secured the horizontal iiange d of a tube D, which iseXteriorly threaded at its upper end, as seen.

B is a tubular handle, (preferably of seveneighths-inch gas-pipe, eightfeet or more in length,) and D is a coupling or collar which embracesthe lower end of the handle and the upper end of the tube and detachablyconnects them, whereby a longer or shorter handle may be attached to thecylinder, as will be obvious.

The letter O designates the piston, which plays vertically within thecylinder, and through the center of this piston is passed a socket-piecec, having a flange at its lower end standing under the body of thepiston. Into the socket-piece is screwed a nut c', having a flange atits upper end standing over the piston and larger than the aperture e2in the upper head of the cylinder. Into the nut is screwed the lower endof a long rod A, which leads up through the handle B and has a hand-holdor handle proper d at its upper end. By this construction thesocket-piece and nut can be screwed together to cause their flanges toclamp the piston tightly, .and the latter may therefore be of wood oreven of leather. The rod A is of metal and screws into a metal nut, andhence these parts will not pull apart when the piston is suddenly andforcibly raised and the flange of the nut strikes the upper head aroundits aperture e2. The piston proper may be removed when desired byseparating the nut and socket-piece; but the rod will first be unscrewedfrom the nut, as will be clear. The lower end or head of the cylinder isclosed by a disk or plate E, centrally apertured, as at e, and e is abolt or screw, which secures a weighted Hap-valve e to this disk at oneside of the aperture e, so that the valve may fall to close suchaperture. I provide a screw S, taking through this disk on the oppositeside of the aperture from the bolt e, so as to hold the free edge of theHapvalve raised, as seen in Fig. 3, and the device then serves as anaerator for the cistern.

P is a plug or other post set in the ground and over which the device isplaced when it is desired to raise the valve when the screw does notsupport it, as seen in Fig. 2. This IOO V cleaner is as follows: Thevalve being allowed to close and the cylinder being lowered into thecistern or other tank which it is desired to clean, the feet f arepressed onto the bottom and into the corners to stir up the sediment, orat least to free it from the bottom. The rod A is then drawn on to raisethe piston C to the top of the cylinder, and this movement draws in, or,as it were, sucks in the water and sediment at the bottom of thecistern. The cylinder is then removed by its handle B and placed overthe plug, which latter lifts the valve, and by depressing the rod A themuddy water is forced out of the cylinder onto the ground or elsewhere,according as the plug P is located. After several repetitions of thisprocess and when the water ejected becomes quite clear it is oftendesirable to impregnate the water at the bottom of the cistern withclear and pure air to aerate it. This I elfcct in the following manner:The screw S, as seen in Fig. 3, is screwed into such position that itwill prevent the flapvalve from completely closing, and the piston israised. The cylinder is then lowered into the cistern and the rod Adepressed forcibly. This motion expells the air which is in thecylinder, and it passes out into the water at the bottom of the cisternand quickly rises to the top, passing through and aerating the waterabove in its ascent.

The parts of this improved device are of any desired size, shape,proportion, and materials, and considerable departure may be made fromthe specific construction set forth above without losing sight of theinvention. In storing or during transportation of the device the handleB and rod A are detached from the coupling D and nut c', respectively,as will be clear. For deeper cisterns or wells these members must belonger. The lower head E is preferably screwed into the cylinder, asshown at Q, so that the piston may be removed for cleansing and repair.Said piston may have annular packing Q', as shown, although this is notalways necessary, as a perfectly air-tight connection of parts is notessential.

What is claimed as new is- 1. A cistern-cleaner comprising acylinderhaving a Haring and notched foot projecting below its lower end, areciprocating piston in the cylinder, an apertured head in the lower endof the cylinder, an inwardly-opening iiapvalve secured to said head andadapted to close the aperture therein, and a screw takin g through thishead from the exterior and adapted to sustain the free edge of saidvalve, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A cistern-cleaner comprising a cylinder having a handle, a pistonwithin said cylinder, means for operating the piston, an apertured headin the lower end of the cylinder, an inwardly-opening flap-valve securedto said head and adapted to close the aperture therein, and anadjustable support on this head adapted to sustain the free edge of saidvalve, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in v presence of twowitnesses.

EVAN B., RAVENCROFT. Witnesses:

E. H. WESTENHAVER, FRANK TAYLOR.

